Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 18th, 2026–Jan 19th, 2026

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Alpine

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Below Treeline

Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Periods of low danger are a great time to explore more committing objectives.

Continue to use caution in avalanche terrain, especially on steep sunny slopes and around cornices.

Confidence

High

Confidence is due to a stable weather pattern with little change expected.

Avalanche Summary

Small wet loose avalanches were observed in the region on Friday and Saturday. Some recent cornice falls were also observed. Avalanche activity from much earlier in the week (see photos) is described in this MIN post.

Conditions are very spring-like: Minimal avalanche activity is expected, as long as the hard surface crust remains intact. Conditions may change if the crust weakens and melts with solar input and daytime warming.

Snowpack Summary

Many areas have rain runnels following the last storm. In general, a thick surface crust caps the snowpack. This crust may break down during daytime warming, and if well timed, provide some good riding conditions. The potential for wet loose avalanches and cornices falling will also increase with sun and warming.

In many areas, a new layer of surface hoar is growing on the surface.

Cornices are reportedly large and fragile; be mindful of them during this warming trend.

Otherwise, the snowpack is well settled and consolidated, with no current layers of concern. Total snowpack height generally varies between 150 and 250 cm at treeline.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night
Clear skies. 10 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 4 °C. Temperature inversion with an above-freezing layer from 1700 to 3000 m.

Monday
Sunny. 10 km/h northwest ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 6 °C. Temperature inversion with an above-freezing layer from 1700 to 3400 m.

Tuesday
Sunny. 20 km/h north ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature 1 °C. Freezing level 2000 m.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny. 10 km/h southeast ridgetop wind. Treeline temperature -2 °C. Freezing level 1000 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.
Avalanche activity is unlikely when a thick melt-freeze crust is present on the snow surface.
Limit exposure to steep, sun exposed slopes, especially when the solar radiation is strong.
Periods of low danger may be a good time to increase your exposure.

Problems

Cornices

Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind drifts of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller. They can break off the terrain suddenly and pull back onto the ridge top and catch people by surprise even on the flat ground above the slope. Even small cornices can have enough mass to be destructive and deadly. Cornice Fall can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.